World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies

04/01/2021

09/07/2020

Q & A from the lecture by Dr. Ge Youwen and Prof Wang Wei

Dr Amir Hooman Kazemi, Vice President of WFAS from Iran;
Vice President of Traditional Medicine School of Tehran University of Medical Sciences
Q1: According to the Bian Zheng principles, the Qing Fei Pai Du Tang（QFPDT） is to treat which symdrome? Like damp heat? or damp cold?
Wang Wei: As for the syndrome type of QFPDT with better effect, it’s mentioned in the explanation just now. Because the condition of COVID-19 is very complicated, including cold-dampness, dry-heat, damp-heat and qi stagnation, etc. When formulating the prescription of QFPDT, each syndrome type has been considered. So it’s a comprehensive formula. It is not just for a certain syndrome. It is a universal prescription with a wide application range.
Ge You Wen: From the point of view of syndrome differentiation of TCM, QFPDT should be viewed from two aspects, one is the core pathogenesis of COVID-19 and the other is the external symptoms of COVID-19. The core pathogenesis of this disease is cold and dampness, and external symptoms may show dryness and heat. Since the beginning of the formulation of this prescription, the two aspects of core pathogenesis and symptoms were fully considered. We cannot rely on a certain symptom to judge the medication, but should pay attention to the mechanism behind the symptoms, which is very fundamental. So this prescription treats both the symptoms and root causes, taking into account the various syndromes.

Q2: Is there any contraindications for that? Is there any side effects? Is there any interaction with western medicine?

Wang Wei: At present, there is no special contraindications for taking QFPDT. As for the side effects, we can pay attention to the reaction of digestive tract. Of course, many COVID-19 patients are prone to diarrhea and other digestive tract problems after taking antitoxic drugs. In this case, after taking QFPDT, their bodies are intolerant and there may be reactions such as worsening diarrhea. According to the actual clinical situation, many COVID-19 patients have complications. If the patient suffers from severe hypertension, after taking this medicine, the heart rate and the blood pressure may increase, mainly because the blood pressure may fluctuate before the exterior symptoms are relieved (without sweating). Then QFPDT should be used with caution or taken in reduced doses.

Ge You Wen: In clinical practice, we gave this prescription to many children. Note that the dosage of children should be halved. At present, no adverse reactions have been found. In addition, it is not recommended for pregnant women infected with COVID-19.

Q3: Has Qing Fei Pai Du Tang used in any other country? If yes, which country and how about the results?

Wang Wei: QFPDT is also used in other countries outside of China. At present, it is used in Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, Malaysia and other countries. It is mainly used by local Chinese TCM doctors. The feedback effect is good.

Q4: Which symptoms of COVID-19 are best treated by
QFPDT?

Wang Wei: It was mentioned in the lecture just now that the most rapid improvement of QFPDT in COVID-19 patients is fever symptoms, followed by fatigue and asthma. And most other symptoms can be generally improved.

Dr Marek Kalmus, Honorary President of Polish Society of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Q5: Could you please provide us the official data on the effectiveness of the Qing Fei Pai Du Tang recipe? In the West, we need data from scientific publications confirming the extremely high effectiveness of this recipe. Without that we can’t talk with Western medicine doctors and authorities as well as institutions responsible for health care, because they will not trust us. We need published Evidence-Based Medicine papers or officially stated data by Chinese authorities as the argument about the effectiveness and safety of Chinese medicine in the COVID-19 treatment. It is the only way to introduce TCM treatment not only in Poland, but in most Western countries. It can give a chance for us to work together with Western medicine and introduce Integrative treatment for the benefit of the patients. The same applies to the use of acupuncture-moxibustion in COVID-19 treatment.

Wang Wei: In the early stage of the outbreak, we first wanted to treat patients as soon as possible, so treatment was the first, science was the second, and then clinical research integration. At present, we’re still observing the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 patients, including some imported cases abroad, and relevant scientific research data and detailed information about the treatment of this infectious disease are still under statistics. Just now, we reported the preliminary stage data. Now we are still actively collating and analyzing these, and we will continue to publish specific research data on TCM treatment of COVID-19 in some authoritative magazines, including the effectiveness and safety of TCM, optimal treatment time, etc. will be presented for reference by countries in the fight against the epidemic.

Q6: How long do you need to use the Qing Fei Pai Du Tang for the best healing effect? Is it proofed by any research or based only on your experiences?

Wang Wei: The duration of taking QFPDT depends on the specific conditions and symptoms of each patient. In general, mild patients have a significant improvement after taking one or two days, and ordinary patients need to take one to two courses to achieve the best treatment effect, and severe patients may require three courses of treatment with very good results.

Q7: There are several different Chinese preventive formulas advised to protect against COVID-19 infection. Some have been already published, others were given by Chinese TCM professors practicing TCM in the Europe. They are generally designed against external pathogens Cold-Dampness with toxins. Could you please give the main formula currently recommended for COVID-19 prophylaxis? How long should it be used - especially when we will have dry and hot weather soon?

Wang Wei: I think prevention is indeed a very complicated thing, we don’t talk about which prevention is very effective easily, and it’s difficult to prove. However, some views and understandings of TCM can improve people's immunity and resistance by supporting righteous Qi. We have no comparative research on which of these TCM formulas is the most authoritative, so it’s hard for us to judge now.

Q8: We know form research in Cambridge (UK) and Germany that another SARS-CoV-2 virus genomes occurs in the West (genome C) than in China (genome A and B). Wuhan’s major virus type, ‘B’, was prevalent in patients from across East Asia. Do you know if the formula Qing Fei Pai Du Tang – which was perfect for China and other Asian countries – will be equally effective in the West? Or some changes should be made according to TCM?

Ge You Wen: These problems were considered at the beginning of the preparation of QFPDT, just like I made an analogy before-water, it will show different forms at different temperatures, but its essence is water, which will never change. Treating the disease with traditional Chinese medicine is to seek the roots. To formulate QFPDT to treat the disease. First, the symptoms and clinical response of COVID-19 patients, and second, the roots of the theory of five movements and six qi, including what the disease is from the generation to the human body hazards, as well as seasonal changes. We have considered the aspects above when designing the prescription. Judging from the treatment of these imported cases abroad, cases were from Northern Europe, the Middle East and other countries have also taken QFPDT, and the treatment results are good. As for the change of seasons, the colder the weather, the more obvious the therapeutic effect of QFPDT; as the temperature increases, the lethality of this virus will also decrease. Therefore, QFPDT is treating the root of the disease, and it will not lose its effectiveness due to the change of the covid virus’ gene.

Ephraim Ferreira Medeiros，Director of the International Education and Research Department of Acupuncture and Alternative Medicine Study Centre-Brazil/China

Q9: COVID-19 is a new disease that is gradually being understood. Each day new information and transformations arise. Perhaps one of the most striking is the emergence of hematological manifestations such as clotting problems or even stroke in patients with no history of comorbidity. I would like to know if the professor has anything to share or suggest in terms of strategy specifically for patients with more evident hematological manifestations ?

Ge You Wen: This problem must come from the COVID-19 clinic, because the blood coagulation or stroke problems will certainly occur in the clinic. As I have said before, one of the bottom lines of the Gengzi year (2020) is wooden qi, i.e. human liver qi. Once the liver qi stagnates, the qi at the Taichong acupoint will be passed to Jueyin, and there will be problem with ability of conveyance and dispersion including the blood vessels. Then blood circulation, qi circulation, and water circulation will all be blocked. The wooden qi is blocked this year. So the herbs such as Guizhi(cassia twig), Xixin(Asarum), Mahuang(Ephedra) and Chaihu (Bupleurum) in QFPDT are used to deal with this major problem. This was taken into account when formulating the prescription at the beginning. So in clinic practice, I suggest that two needles can be put on one Taichong point to strengthen the meridian qi at this acupoint, which plays a very important role in the occurrence of critical phase or inflammatory storms during western medicine treatment. Moreover, according to a large number of tongue coatings and other information with four TCM diagnosis methods in the clinic of COVID-19, most patients have dark purple tongues and liver stagnation. Therefore, QFPDT together with the needling method of 18 matched acupoints can solve this problem.
The eighteen acupoints are: SJ2(Yemen), SJ6(Zhigou), BL60(Kunlun), BL66(Tonggu), KI3(Taixi), GB43(Xiaxi), LR3(Taichong), LU7(Lieque), LU5(Chize), SP3(Taibai), SP9(Yinlingquan), ST40(Fenglong), SI3(Houxi), GB20(Fengchi), DU16(Fengfu), LU11(Shaoshang), LI1(Shangyang), and SJ1(Guanchong).

Q10: Following this reasoning I would also like to know if the professor suggests any special kind of manipulation on these points such as shāo shān huŏ（烧山火） or tòu tiān liáng（透天凉） or any other.

Ge You Wen: First of all, the reinforcing and purging effect of acupuncture points has been reflected in the selection of points, and the nature of these recommended acupoints has determined its reinforcing and purging effect, so when doing acupuncture, it is sufficient to use the Ping Bu Ping Xie (mild reinforcement and attenuation) manipulation technique. As for the acupuncture manipulation of “burning mountain fire(shao shan huo)” and “letting the sky cool(tou tian liang)”, I suggest that the manipulation of “burning mountain fire(shao shan huo)” can be applied to the triple energizer(sanjiao) meridian, and the Ping Bu Ping Xie (mild reinforcement and attenuation) manipulation technique can be used on the rest ones.

27/05/2020

Q & A from the lecture by Prof. Huang Luqi

Prof. Ramon Calduch, President of European Foundation of Traditional Chinese Medicine：As President of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, you know that Chinese medicine is NOT regulated in most western countries and that, in those countries where it is regulated, such as Australia, Portugal, Chile, USA, etc., and even in China, the efficacy of Chinese medicine is questioned, by defenders of Western medicine, based on its alleged "lack of scientific evidence." We also know that, in most Western countries, Chinese medicine is accepted and highly valued by citizens and that, in these countries, the majority of professionals who practice Chinese medicine (more than 90%) are NOT Western doctors. In most western countries, where Chinese medicine (and Chinese herbal medicine) are not regulated, it is NOT possible to use Chinese medicine formulas and patent medicines for the treatment of COVID-19, because the governments of these countries do not allow imports, since Chinese herbal medicine products are not registered, even though they are donations and at times as exceptional as those we are going through.

Q1: From your explanations, it is evident that, in the R.P. China, Chinese medicine has made great contributions, in combination with Western medicine techniques, in the prevention, treatment and cure of COVID-19.
My question is whether this reality, which you have explained to us is sufficiently recognized by the Chinese Government authorities themselves?

Prof. Huang Luqi: All the diagnosis and treatment plans and various treatment measures in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic in Wuhan this time are organized and implemented by the Chinese government. It is the public health policy of the Chinese government to attach equal importance to TCM and Western medicine. The diagnosis and treatment experience and scientific research results introduced in my report just now are fully recognized by the Chinese government and recommended nationwide.

Q2: If the documentation of this reality, based on criteria acceptable to the scientific community, can help Western countries, following the recommendations of the document of "WHO 2014-2023 Strategy", decide to regulate Chinese medicine and integrate it in their National Health Systems, as advised by the WHO?

Prof. Huang Luqi: In my report just now, I have introduced our relevant experience in the clinical observation of the treatment of COVID-19, which are all based on standards acceptable to the scientific community to study and design how to obtain high-level and high-quality clinical evidence. I think what we are doing now should be recognized by the scientific community and can promote “the potential contribution of mastering the use of traditional and complementary medicine to health, well-being and people-oriented health care” as proposed in the document "WHO 2014-2023 Strategy ”. Therefore, in the face of such a global outbreak, based on the clinical efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine, we can definitely help western countries to achieve a better understanding of TCM, thus promoting the legislation of TCM in the host country. At the same time, we also hope that TCM experts and colleagues like Professor Ramon can actively promote and recommend TCM in western countries and even make good use of TCM in clinical practice.
The research on the COVID-19 epidemic is centered on clinical research. Throughout the clinical process, we have made full use of internationally recognized modern scientific research methods and carried out various researches including clinical research, disease mechanism and new drug research and development. We have proposed and provided these research results to WHO, hoping that WHO can organize international experts to take further evaluation of these researches. At the same time, I also hope that through WHO, we can spread our mature experience to all countries or regions in the world and make greater contributions to the global fight against the COVID-19 epidemic.

Q3: What can you suggest to European organizations and those of the rest of the world, that we take care of promoting education, clinical practice and research in Chinese medicine, for the benefit of the citizens of our countries?

Prof. Huang Luqi: To give advice to European organizations of Chinese medicine education, clinical practice and scientific research, I think the education of Chinese medicine is the foundation, through which the public can have a better understanding of Chinese medicine so as to have a better understanding of diseases or health. With such a foundation of Chinese medicine education, combined with clinical practice and scientific research, especially in the COVID-19 epidemic, if Chinese medicine can be applied locally and the advantages and characteristics of clinical efficacy of Chinese medicine can be reflected, then Chinese medicine therapy will definitely be better accepted in Europe, thus promoting the local legislation of Chinese medicine and providing legal protection for the local use of TCM.

Prof. Aldo Liguori, President of Italian Association of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and TCM (AIAM):
Q4: Because of the Italian situation, only a limited number of herbs is available because of the European regulations (there are many herbs, minerals and animals not allowed to be imported into the European territory) and there is a shortage of products on the market.
For the above reasons some TCM doctors in Italy are prescribing the below formula (derived from the QingFei PaiDu Formula, modified).
What is your opinion? Is it still effective, even if modified?

Prof. Huang Luqi: This prescription is a modified formula based on QingFei PaiDu Decoction, and the new formula subtracts the five herbs which are Herba Ephedrae(Ma Huang), Rhizoma Belamcandae(She Gan), Herba Asari(Xi Xin), Rhizoma Dioscoreae(Shan Yao), and Herba Agastaches(Huo Xiang). The deduction of Ephedra (Ma Huang) is very understandable, because it is controlled in Europe and is worried that ephedrine in Ephedra excites sympathetic nerve, thus increasing the risk of heart rate acceleration. Therefore, Ephedra is removed and replaced by Folium Perillae(Su Ye) in the new prescription. However, I want to explain at this point that the acceleration of heart rate in COVID-19 patients is sympathetic nerve excitation caused by hypoxia (thus accelerating heart rate), so the key to treatment is to improve the anoxic state of patients. Ephedra is the most effective herb in Chinese medicine for "dispersing lung qi and relieving asthma". Although folium perillae(Su Ye) has the function of "clearing lung heat and relieving exterior syndrome", it is not capable (like ephedra). Therefore, the treatment effect of the new prescription is definitely not as good as that of the original one by replacing ephedra with folium perillae(Su Ye). In addition, Pogostemon rugose (Huo Xiang) is removed from the new prescription. It is well-known that it has the effect of aromatizing and dampening. It is the main medicine for removing dampness in the treatment. It is also used in the prescription of HuaShi BaiDu Formula.
Therefore, judging from the two herbs of ephedra (Ma Huang) and Pogostemon rugose (Huo Xiang), I think the new prescription is definitely not as good as the original one (QingFei PaiDu Decoction).

Q5: With the help of TCM diagnosis, is it possible to understand in advance if a severe patient is going to develop coagulopathy?

Prof. Huang Luqi: Coagulation DIC is a western medical diagnostic concept. It refers to the pathological syndrome characterized by coagulation dysfunction, which is common in the development process of severe patients. It corresponds to the category of blood stasis in Chinese medicine. The common clinical features are mainly needle pricking like pain, such as chest pain, abdominal pain, lower extremity pain, etc., and facial symptoms such as dark purple lips and tongue, etc. Whether there is blood stasis in patients can be identified through combination of four TCM diagnostic methods: observation, auscultation and olfaction, interrogation, and palpation and pulse feeling. In clinical practice, it is found this time that symptoms such as dark tongue and purple lips generally occurs to severe and critical COVID-19 patients. Some patients have abnormal coagulation indexes, and this type of patients have a high risk of coagulation DIC. However, there are also some patients who do not have abnormalities of laboratory indexes, and the risk of coagulation DIC is not high or very low for such patients. Therefore, it can be said that blood stasis syndrome in Chinese medicine is more extensive than coagulation DIC in western medicine. In general, COVID-19 patients who are differentiated as blood stasis syndrome do not necessarily have coagulation DIC and its corresponding clinical interventions. In clinical practice, we suggest to further clarify the diagnosis with the help of laboratory indicators so as not to delay the patient's condition.

Dr Reginaldo Filho, President of Brazilian College of Chinese Medicine:
Q6：Can you please tell us if there are researches from CACMS about Chinese Medicine treatment of Covid-19?

Prof. Huang Luqi: The CACMS has been doing clinical to laboratory research on TCM treatment of COVID-19 diseases. The work described in my report is the clinical research we did in Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital, Dongxihu makeshift hospital and Jiangjun Street Community Hospital. At the same time, we have also done a lot of laboratory research that matches the clinical research. Related work done by laboratory animals in the Academy of Medical Sciences. For example, our Chinese Herb Institute of the CACMS has done research on animal models, and Laboratory Animal Institute of the CACMS has also done related work.

Q7: In Brazil the numbers are increasing daily. What could you suggest for prevention? I mean to improve our 正气 in order to be more prepared for a possible infection

Prof. Huang Luqi: Regarding prevention, I think to draw on the sentence in the classic Yellow Emperor's Internal Classics of Chinese Medicine, "People won’t get infected during pandemic is because their righteous Qi is strong inside, pathogenic influences cannot invade from the outside, and stay away from toxic Qi". That means people need to improve their immunity. But how? We can use some fitness methods, such as Tai Chi, Ba Duan Jin, and can also use cook some herbal food. In addition, Chinese medicine also emphasizes the role of emotion regulation, so we should pay attention to the combination of work and rest, Co-feeding of physical body and spirit to improve the body's righteous Qi and prevents infection.

Prof. Gary Deng, Medical Director of the Bendheim Integrative Medicine Center at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center:
Q8: In many countries, people have the demand for Chinese medicine, but the supply and the quality of medicines are not always guaranteed. Does the country have any overall plans and measures for increasing the quantity and quality of Chinese herbal medicines for export?
Prof. Huang Luqi: In our country, the quality of traditional Chinese herbs is mainly regulated by the National Pharmacopoeia. If they go through formal channels or manufacturers (for procurement), they are guaranteed by corresponding laws and regulations. In terms of international cooperation, I mentioned in the proposal that I plan to establish a corresponding international anti-epidemic alliance, which mainly composed of Chinese medicine research institutions, medical institutions and enterprises. The quality and supply chain of traditional Chinese medicines can be guaranteed through such alliance. If there is a demand from various countries, our CACMS can further promote and carry out related work in this regard.

Q9: At present, China has published real-time data on asymptomatic patients. Do they need to be treated? Please introduce the relevant experience in the prevention or treatment of traditional Chinese medicine for such asymptomatic infections.

Prof. Huang Luqi: Chinese medicine believes that asymptomatic infections should fall into the category of "Pathogen hides inside and susceptible to be sick". Such people already have evidence of viral infections, such as nucleic acid test positive, Ig M antibody positive in serum, but no obvious clinical symptoms. For such asymptomatic patients, there are generally two possibilities: (1) Righteous Qi wins and Evil Qi goes away, the body is in a state of eliminating pathogens, so the symptoms are not obvious, and these patients may gradually heal themselves; (2) Righteous Qi and Evil Qi are fighting, the disease is on the edge to break out. There are three situations of this kind of patient. The first one is the victory of Righteous Qi and proceed to self-healing. The second one is Righteous Qi and Evil Qi are continuously fighting, pathogen remains hidden state, and the patient become a chronic virus carrier. The third one is Righteous Qi and Evil Qi fight each other, and the patient get induced by internal or external causes and show up symptoms. Such patients should be treated early. When we were in Wuhan, we drafted a herb and food homologue for asymptomatic infected patients, and processed it into herbal tea, so that the body can support Righteous Qi and drive out evil pathogen.

“Yi Xiaofang”——Homology of medicine and food：
Flos Lonicerae Japonicae 2g，Herba PogoStemonis 2g，Bulbus Lilii 3g，
Poria 5g， Herba Menthae 1g， Folium Mori 1g， Semen Phaseoli 5g，
Radix Ginseng 3g

15/05/2020

Video Diagnostic Conference on Covid-19 with Chinese Experts on the Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine and Hospitals from SCO Member States, Observers, and Dialogue Partners

On May 9, Video Diagnostic Conference on Covid-19 with Chinese Experts on the Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine and Hospitals from SCO Member States, Observers, and Dialogue Partners was held. The conference invited Chinese experts to introduce the unique contribution and clinical experience of TCM in combating the COVID-19, to analyze clinical cases with more than 80 doctors from 14 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states, observers and dialogue partners, and to discuss the integrated plan of Chinese and Western medicine to prevent and treat COVID-19.
CCTV-13 live news reported on this video diagnosis conference.
How to treat asymptomatic patients? What kinds of medicine should be used on patients who have difficulty breathing but are conscious? Can antibiotics be used in cases of severe inflammation of pulmonary fibrosis? ... On the afternoon of the 9th, multiple TCM experts connected with more than 80 experts in 14 countries by video, giving suggestions to difficult cases they encountered during this time.
"Severe and critical patients have serious problems of pulmonary fibrosis and lung function damage. Some countries have adopted larger doses of antibiotics, which caused serious side effects. Are there better treatments?” asked Prof. Anahit Mkrtchyan from the department of infectious diseases of Yerevan State Medical University, and chief physician of Nork infectious clinical hospital, Armenia.
"If the patient does not have a clear bacterial inflammation, we do not recommend antibiotics." Academician Tong Xiaolin, leader of the Medical Treatment Expert Group of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said that Chinese medicine has obvious effects on the treatment of pulmonary function injury and pulmonary fibrosis in the later stage. For lung injury, you can use Huang Qi, Dang Shen, Fu Ling, Bai Shu, etc. to adjust the body immunity. For pulmonary fibrosis, you can use San Qi, Leech, Di Long, and other Chinese medicines. After treatment of more than two months, the condition will improve significantly.
Mr. Yang Longhui, Vice President of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (CACMS), introduced that the medical team sent by CACMS to Wuhan independently took over a critically ill area of Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital. Within two months, 88 cases were cured with pure Chinese medicine and 42 severe and critical cases were cured with integrated Chinese and Western medicine. TCM has obvious advantages in improving the cure rate, shortening hospitalization and the time of negative NAT, and reducing the use of antibiotics and hormones.

Zhang Boli, President of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said that Chinese medicine can deeply participate in the whole process of diagnosis and treatment. With different medication, the three patented Chinese medicines and three TCM prescriptions, and acupuncture and cupping therapy, have different effects on the treatment of different stages of COVID-19, and the curative effect is obvious. Tong Xiaolin introduced the prevention and treatment system of traditional Chinese medicine - prevention before disease, early diagnosis and treatment to prevent the development and transmission of diseases, and prevention of recurrence after recovery - is a powerful weapon for traditional Chinese medicine to deal with major epidemic. Liu Baoyan, President of the World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS), said that the integration of traditional Chinese and Western medicine can effectively prevent the development from light and mild cases to severe ones, from severe to critical ones, improve the cure rate and reduce the death rate.
Dr. Hooman, Vice Dean of Traditional Medicine School, Tehran University of Medical Science, Iran, has been successfully treated several COVID-19 patients by the combination of Chinese and Western medicine. He has suggested that all countries try to combine traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture with western medicine, and even apply on other diseases, especially those hard to cure with western medicine.
The conference was co-organized by WFAS and the Good Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation Commission of SCO, assisted by the China Association of Acupuncture-Moxibustion (CAAM), and supported by CACMS and Chinese embassies and consulates. Previously, WFAS has organized 16 International Lectures on COVID-19 on the integration of Chinese and Western medicine, and 8 Video Conferences of China-Iran Expert Group on TCM Treatment of COVID-19.

14/05/2020

Letter of Gratitude

Office of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine
29th April, 2020

To the World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS),

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, the whole system of traditional Chinese medicine has firmly implemented the important instructions of President Xi Jinping and the overall deployment of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, ensured a coordinated national response under the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council. TCM has been fully and deeply involved in the prevention and control of COVID-19 epidemic, and has made due contributions to blocking the spread of the virus in Wuhan as well as the whole country.

In prevention and control of the epidemic, your organization has resolutely implemented President Xi's important instructions with political and overall awareness. A number of activities including international academic exchange platform for COVID-19 pandemic, online consultations, the International Lectures on COVID-19, and international donations were carried out with remarkable results, promoting acupuncture and moxibustion of TCM to the world and facilitating experience exchange. Your organization has made important contributions in creating a favorite environment for international cooperation of TCM and paving the way for the comprehensive and in-depth participation of TCM in COVID-19 prevention and control. We hereby extend our high respect and heartfelt appreciation to you.

At present, the whole system of TCM fully implements the important instructions of President Xi Jinping on the work of TCM, the "Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Promoting the Inheritance, Innovation and Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine" and the decisions by the National Conference on Traditional Chinese Medicine. We look forward to your continuing efforts as an international organization in helping TCM better involved in COVID-19 prevention and control, making greater contributions to safeguarding health of the people.